“Without delaying any longer we resumed our walk.  After about a mile we found ourselves compelled once more to halt.  The view here was worse than ever.  The path was now as wide as an ordinary road, and grew wider still as it went on.  It was evidently used to haul logs down to the river, and as it approached the bank it grew steadily wider; but between us and the river the woods were all burning.  The first rush of the fire was over, and now we looked forward and saw a vast array of columns—­the trunks of burned trees—­some blackened and charred, others glowing red.  The ground below was also glowing red, with blackened spaces here and there.

“Still the burned tract was but a strip, and there lay our hope.  The fire, by some strange means, had passed on a track not wider than a hundred yards, and this was what had to be traversed by us.  The question was, whether we could pass through that or not.  The same question came to both of us, and neither of us said a word.  But before I could ask the lady about it, her horse became frightened at the flames.  I advised her to dismount, for I knew that the poor brute could never be forced through those fires.  She did so, and the horse, with a horrible snort, turned and galloped wildly away.

“I now looked around once more, and saw that there was no escape except in front.  The flames were encircling us, and a vast cloud of smoke surrounded us every where, rising far up and rolling overhead.  Cinders fell in immense showers, and the fine ashes, with which the air was filled, choked us and got into our eyes.

“‘There is only one chance,’ said I; ’and that is to make a dash for the river.  Can you do it?’

“‘I’ll try,’ she said.

“‘We’ll have to go through the fires.’

“She nodded.

“‘Well, then,’ I said, ’do as I say.  Take off your sacque and wrap it around your head and shoulders.’

“She took off her sacque at this.  It was a loose robe of merino or alpaca, or something of that sort, and very well suited for what I wanted.  I wrapped it round her so as to protect her face, head, and shoulders; and taking off my coat I did the same.

“‘Now,’ said I, ’hold your breath as well as you can.  You may keep your eyes shut.  Give me your hand—­I’ll lead you.’

“Taking her hand I led her forward at a rapid pace.  Once she fell, but she quickly recovered herself, and soon we reached the edge of the flames.

“I tell you what it is, my boy, the heat was terrific, and the sight was more so.  The river was not more than a hundred yards away, but between us and it there lay what seemed as bad as the burning fiery furnace of Messrs. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  If I were now standing there, I don’t think I could face it.  But then I was with the girl; I had to save her.  Fire was behind us, racing after us; water lay in front.  Once there and we were safe.  It was not a time to dawdle or hesitate, I can assure you.